Free flow siphon pump and assembly

ABSTRACT

A pump for use as a siphon includes an elongated cylindrical body having an inlet nipple at one end to which an inlet hose is attached, the inlet hose being substantially smaller in diameter than the cylinder body. The actuator for the pump includes a piston dimensioned to engage the cylinder walls, and having a central hollow nipple to which a length of discharge hose is attached, the discharge hose being substantially longer than the housing. The housing includes a guide bushing at the discharge end, having a central opening for guiding the discharge hose. Moving the piston toward the discharge end while closing the free end of the discharge hose, enlarges the expansible pump chamber creating partial vacuum to initiate flow of liquid through the pump.

United States Patent Wingate FREE FLOW SIPHON PUMP AND ASSEMBLY [76]Inventor: Glen R. Wingate, 810 Blue Ridge Parkway, Longview. Tex. 75601[22] Filed: Sept. 7, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 395,139

[52] US. Cl 137/149; 417/437 [51] Int. Cl.'- H01M 2/14 [581 Field ofSearch 137/l47l49'. 417/DIG. 1. 437

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1.440.706 1/1923 Taylor137/148 1.546.265 7/1925 Symons... 137/149 2.783.715 3/1957 Kraus137/1'49 2.888.879 6/1959 Gaarder 92/170 2.922.380 1/1960 Pedlow. Jr. ctal.. 92/249 3.006.282 10/1961 Sisson..... 4I7/DIG. I

3.125.004 3/1964 White 92/249 3.176.595 4/1965 Schwartz. 92/2493.187.960 6/1965 Gorman..... 92/170 3.388.638 6/1968 Brinkel 92/2403.588.293 6/1971 Moralos 417/479 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS1.107.362 8/1955 France 137/148 634.813 3/1950 United Kingdom 137/149306.862 4/1933 Italy 137/148 Primary E.mminer-William L. Freeh Attorney,Agent. or Firm-Peter J. Murphy [57] ABSTRACT A pump for use as a siphonincludes an elongated cylindrical body having an inlet nipple at one endto which an inlet hose is attached, the inlet hose being substantiallysmaller in diameter than the cylinder body. The actuator for the pumpincludes a piston dimensioned to engage the cylinder walls. and having acentral hollow nipple to which a length of discharge hose is attached.the discharge hose being substantially longer than the housing. Thehousing includes a guide bushing at the discharge end. having a centralopening for guiding the discharge hose. Moving the piston toward thedischarge end while closing the free end of the discharge hose. enlargesthe expansible pump chamber creating partial vacuum to initiate flow ofliquid through the pump.

6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures FREE FLOW SIPHON PUMP AND ASSEMBLYBACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a pumpfor use in a siphon assembly, for initiating flow of fluid through thesiphon assembly, and to a siphon assembly.

A well known problem in connection with the use of siphons is thedrawing of the fluid into the siphon conduit to effect the operation ofthe siphon. This is frequently accomplished by the user placing thedischarge end of the siphon in his mouth and drawing on'the conduit tocreate a partial vacuum. Frequently the fluid enters the mouth of theuser, and this is at least distasteful where the liquid is unclean orunpalatable. This also could create a situation of some danger when theliquid is toxic or otherwise harmful, particularly should the user beunfortunate enough to swallow some of such liquid.

To obviate the necessity for creating the partial vacuum in this manner,it is desirable to provide some form of simple and reliable pump for asiphon conduit, or preferably a siphon assembly incorporating a pump forthe purpose of creating the necessary partial vacuum to draw the liquidinto the siphon, and to permit the flow of liquid through the siphononce flow is established.

A principal object of this invention is to provide a free flow vacuumpump for use with a suitable length of conduit to define a siphonassembly.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a free flow vacuumpump which is simple in construction, economic to manufacture, simple touse, and effective and reliable in operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a siphon assembly ofrugged durable construction, and which is suitable for use with manytypes of liquids, including gasoline and fuel oil.

For accomplishing these objects, a pump for a siphon comprises anelongated tubular housing which defines a pump cylinder. Nipple means isprovided at one end for attaching an inlet conduit of smaller diameterthan the housing and of any desired length. A pump actuator comprises apiston acting within the cylinder and having a central opening, and anattached elongated tubular conduit which communicates with the pistonopening. The actuator conduit is substantially longer than the tubularhousing so that it will always project from the housing. In greaterdetail, the housing is provided with a guide bushing at the end oppositethe nipple means for guiding the movement of the tubular conduitrelative to the cylinder, and for retaining the actuator piston withinthe cylinder.

The novel features and the advantages of the invention, as well asadditional objects thereof, will be understood more fully from thefollowing description, when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawing.

DRAWING FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of an operating siphon including apump according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view, partially in section, of a pump according to theinvention; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail view, partially in full and partially insection, of the piston of the pump of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawing, FIG. 1illustrates a siphon assembly in operation between a supply container ortank at the higher elevation, and a receiving container or tank 11. Thesiphon assembly includes an inlet hose 21 of desired length and a pumpincluding a discharge hose or nozzle 41. The inlet hose may befabricated of vinyl and polyvinylchloride, for example, and may have anID of one-half inch for example.

Referring particularly to FIG. 2, the pump 30 includes an elongatedhousing fabricated from a cylindrical sleeve 31, an inlet end cap 32,and a discharge and bushing 35. The sleeve 31 may be fabricated frompolyvinylchloride for example, and may have a length of about 9 inches,and an ID of about 1.125 inches for example. The inner surface of thesleeve may be coated with tetrafluroethylene, a material known for itsselflubricating properties.

The inlet end cap 32 is a cup-shaped member having an integral /2 inchnipple 33, the end cap having an axial extension dimensioned to bereceived within one end of the sleeve 31 and to be cemented to thesleeve with a suitable cement. The inlet end cap may be fabricated fromacrylonitrile butadiene styrene for example.

The discharge end bushing 35 may also be fabricated from acrylonitrilebutadiene styrene, for example, and is also generally cup-shaped andprovided with an axial extension dimensioned to be received within thesleeve 31 and to be cemented thereto. This bushing forms a centralopening 36 defined by an internal wall for guiding the discharge hose ornozzle 41 as will be described.

An actuator 40 for the pump includes the above mentioned conduit ordischarge nozzle 41, of a length substantially greater than that of thepump housing, and a piston 42. The discharge nozzle 41 may be a /2 inchID hose fabricated of vinyl and polyvinylchloride for example. Thedischarge nozzle extends through the bushing opening 36; and thisopening has a diameter sufficiently large to permit easy slidingmovement of the discharge nozzle through the bushing, with this openingalso functioning as a vent for the discharge end of the pump housing.

The piston which is particularly illustrated in FIG. 3 is preferablyfabricated from a plastic material which is flexible but fairly hard,such as a high density polyethylene. The piston has an outer cylindricalportion 43 having a circumference dimensioned for a sliding fit withinthe sleeve 31 to keep the piston square within the pump cylinder. At oneend of this cylindrical portion 43 there is provided a divergingresilient sealing lip 44 having an OD of from 1.150 to 1.180 inches, forexample, for a tight seal with the cylinder wall. The piston is alsoprovided with a central /2 inch nipple 45 defining an opening 46 throughthe piston; and the nipple includes a rib 47 for retaining the dischargeconduit 41 which is also cemented onto the nipple.

In operation the pump 30 is conditioned for pumping by moving theactuator toward the right, as viewed in FIG. 2 to position the piston 42adjacent to or against the end cap 32; and in this condition asufficient length of the discharge nozzle 41 projects from the housingto be enclosed in the hand of the user. The siphon assembly is thenpositioned as illustrated in FIG. 1 with the free end of the inlet hose21 disposed in the supply container 10 and the discharge nozzle 41positioned adjacent to the receiving container 11. To initiate liquidflow, the operators thumb is placed over the free end of the dischargenozzle 41 and the pump actuator is given a sharp pull to move theactuator piston toward the discharge and bushing 35. This produces arapid enlargement of the chamber defined by the sleeve 31, end cap 32and piston 42 creating a partial vacuum which acts to draw liquid fromthe supply container into the inlet hose 21. With liquid in the hose 21,the thumb is released from the actuator nozzle and flow of the liquidwill continue through normal siphoning action, through the pump chamberand discharging from the discharge nozzle.

It has been discovered that the rate of flow through this siphonassembly can be controlled by controlling the rate at which the actuator40 is withdrawn from the pump housing to initiate flow. If the actuatoris withdrawn relatively slowly, the resultant rate of siphon flow willbe slow. By the same token, if the actuator is pulled quite sharply, therate of flow will be the maximum permitted by the diameters of the inletand discharge hoses.

What has been described is a simple, rugged and effective siphonassembly including a free flow pump. A particular feature of theassembly is that the flow of fluid is initiated by a single simpleaction of the pump actuator; and the flow will then continueindefinitely without further activity on the part of the user.

Another feature of the invention is that the parts are fabricated fromplastic materials producing a rugged and durable structure which can bereadily manufactured and which can be made of materials capable of usewith most liquids for which there is a siphoning need. Because of thenature of the construction there is minimum wear and opportunity forbreakage, resulting in a device which may be used many times over anextended period of time.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatchanges and modifications may be resorted to without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A pump for a siphon comprising a pump housing comprising an elongatedcylindrical sleeve, fabricated from plastic tubing and provided with aninterior coating of a tetrafluroethylene; an inlet end cap cemented tosaid sleeve in sealing relation, having an inlet hose nipple with anopening of a diameter smaller than that of said sleeve; a discharge endbushing cemented to said sleeve, having a central guide opening of adiameter smaller than that of said sleeve;

a pump actuator comprising an elongated tubular conduit and a pistonfixed to one end thereof; said conduit being dimensioned to pass throughsaid end bushing opening and being substantially longer than saidhousing; said piston being a unitary member molded from a resilientplastic material, having a peripheral cylindrical surface dimensionedfor a sliding fit with said housing sleeve interior wall, and having aperipheral axial flange diverging outwardly from said cylindricalsurface; said piston flange being flexible and having a normal maximumexterior diameter slightly larger than the interior diameter of saidsleeve; said piston having a central opening of a diameter smaller thanthat of said sleeve, and having means for securing said actuator conduittosaid piston in sealing relation with said piston opening;

said actuator conduit defining the discharge conduit for said pump andsaid sleeve, said inlet end cap and said piston defining a pumpingchamber;

said bushing opening having a diameter slightly larger than that of saidactuator conduit defining a vent for the chamber defined by said sleeve,said bushing and said pump actuator.

2. A pump as set forth in claim 1 said piston comprising a member moldedfrom high density polyethylene.

3. A pump as set forth in claim 2 said polyethylene piston and saidtetrafluroethylene coated sleeve coacting to minimize friction wear andto provide a tight long lasting piston-to-wall seal.

4. A pump as set forth in claim 1 said actuator conduit beingdimensioned sufficiently long to be gripped by the hand of the user whensaid piston is disposed adjacent to said inlet end cap; and the distalend of said actuator conduit adapted to be closed by the thumb of theuser for preventing ingress of air to the pump chamber during withdrawalof said actuator conduit from said housing.

5. A pump as set forth in claim 1 said inlet end cap and said bushingcomprising respective unitary molded parts fabricated from a plasticmaterial, and both being permanently cemented to said sleeve.

6. A pump as set forth in claim 5 said sleeve being fabricated frompolyvinylchloride; and said end cap and said bushing being fabricatedfrom acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.

1. A PUMP FOR A SIPHON COMPRISING A PUMP HOUSING COMPRISING AN ELONGATED CYLINDERICAL SLEEVE, FABRICATED FROM PLASTIC TUBING PROVIDED WITH AN INTERIOR COATING OF A TERAFLUOROTHYLENE, AN INLET END CAP CEMENTED TO SAID SLEEVE IN SEALING RELATION, HAVING AN INLET HOSE NIPPLE WITH AN OPENING OF A DIAMETER SMALLER THAN THAT OF SAID SLEEVE, A DISCHARGED END BUSHING CEMENTED TO SAID SLEEVE, HAVING A CENTRAL GUIDE EPENING OF A DIAMETER SMALLER THAN TAT OF SAID SLEEVE, A PUMP ACTUATOR COMPRISING AN ELONGATED TUBLAR CONDUIT AND A PISTON FIXED TO ONE END THEREOF, SAID CONDUIT EING DIMENSIONED TO PASS THROUGH SAID END BUSHING OPENING AND BEING SUBSTANTIALLY LONGER THAN SAID HOUSING, SAID PISYTON BEING A UNITARY MEMBER MOLDED FROM A RESILIENT PLASTIC MATERIAL, HAVING A PERRIPHERAL CYCLINDERICAL SURFACE DIMENSIONED FOR A SLIDING FIT WITH SAID HOUSING SLEEVE INTERIOR WALL, AND HAVING A PERIPHERAL AXIAL FLANGE DIVERGING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID CYCLINDERICAL SURFACE, SAID PISTON
 2. A pump as set forth in claim 1 said piston comprising a membEr molded from high density polyethylene.
 3. A pump as set forth in claim 2 said polyethylene piston and said tetrafluroethylene coated sleeve coacting to minimize friction wear and to provide a tight long lasting piston-to-wall seal.
 4. A pump as set forth in claim 1 said actuator conduit being dimensioned sufficiently long to be gripped by the hand of the user when said piston is disposed adjacent to said inlet end cap; and the distal end of said actuator conduit adapted to be closed by the thumb of the user for preventing ingress of air to the pump chamber during withdrawal of said actuator conduit from said housing.
 5. A pump as set forth in claim 1 said inlet end cap and said bushing comprising respective unitary molded parts fabricated from a plastic material, and both being permanently cemented to said sleeve.
 6. A pump as set forth in claim 5 said sleeve being fabricated from polyvinylchloride; and said end cap and said bushing being fabricated from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. 